Arsenal to offer player swap deal to land Bundesliga star

Arsenal are eager to get the signature of Borussia Dortmund’s main man, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and are set to offer a player plus cash deal due to the fact that they seem to be reluctant to meet the German clubs asking price of £60m.

The Gabon striker has been identified by Arsene Wenger as a replacement for the outgoing Alexis Sanchez – who is almost certain to leave the Emirates before the end of this window with Premier League rivals ready to snatch him up (though Manchester City have all but ruled themselves out of the running and Antonio Conte seems coy on the chances of Sanchez signing on at Stamford Bridge). Wenger urgently wants to add firepower and has the belief that Aubameyang fits the perfect criteria to replace the Chilean.

The 2015 African Player of the Year has been linked with a move away from the Westfalenstadion since last summer and it seems as though he’s edging ever nearer to the exit door and that’s been helped as the German outfit are said to be growing tired of the strikers’ disciplinary issues of late.

The 28-year-old missed a team meeting and was subsequently reprimanded for doing so, but that wasn’t the first time he breached the code of conduct in the last 12 months. Sporting director Michael Zorc has since admitted that the relationship between the club and the player is a breaking point and his behaviour will no longer be tolerated.

“At some point, you can’t tolerate it [lack of discipline from Aubameyang] anymore” Zorc – quoted by Goal.

The Dortmund sporting director added, “I don’t know what’s going on inside his head. We had a very contentious discussion. We’re not used to this behaviour from him. It can’t go on like this”.

According to The Sun, Arsenal are determined to sign the striker who despite all his issues, has notched up a respectable 21 goals in 23 appearances this season and the German outfit who are currently fourth in the Bundesliga could be looking to authorize a move for the striker if interested clubs meet their valuation.

The report has claimed that Arsenal are looking to include Olivier Giroud as part of the deal as they are clearly not ready to submit to Dortmund’s asking price of £60m. The 2016-17 German Cup holders (though knocked out by close rival Bayern Munich last month), were said to be interested in the French striker in the summer and Arsenal are prepared to use that and make a £30m plus player offer to sign Aubameyang.

The three-time FA Cup winner is currently sidelined through injury, but expects to return to action within two weeks Giroud – having played a key role in his national side’s route to the Euro 2016 final wants to fight for his place at Arsenal, but the lack of first-team football has made him consider leaving, and a move to the Westfalenstadion could be ideal if he is to get more game time.

Meanwhile, American broadcaster NBC Sports report that the former Saint-Etienne player has already submitted a transfer request so that he could complete a transfer this month (via German publication Bild). Competition for the striker will gather momentum from other clubs if the Bundesliga club allows him to move.